What is the Chicago Housing Authority?
The Chicago Housing Authority, also known as CHA, is an organization that primarily serves low-income communities. “The Chicago Housing Authority is the third largest public housing agency in the nation. CHA serves more than 20,000 low-income households, by providing safe, decent and affordable housing in healthy, vibrant communities,” according to the Chicago Housing Authority Webpage. Therefore, they make sure that families that do not receive enough income still get safe and coruscating environments to live in. However, the CHA has been in a bit of legal trouble with a new facility that has been leased out to the Chicago Fire Soccer Team.
What Exactly Was This Deal About? How Much Did It Cost?
This deal was regarding a new training center that was going to be built for the Chicago Fire Soccer Team. Originally, this site was going to be made for new housing to be available. It would especially make this housing for more low-income families, therefore it would truly be beneficial for the City of Chicago. However, the CHA decided not to follow through with this original plan and decided to build a training facility instead. “Chicago Housing Authority’s deal to lease land to the Chicago Fire Soccer Club to build an $80 million training center on the Near West,” according to WBEZ Chicago. Therefore, this facility is certainly coming at a really hefty cost. However, there are issues that are arising with this immediate change, as well as a lawsuit that was filed.
A Lawsuit was Filed Against the Chicago Housing Authority, What is the Reason for this Lawsuit?
There is one main reason this lawsuit was filed in the first place. There was a coalition that claimed, as aforementioned, this land was going to be primarily reserved for new housing to be constructed. However, due to this impromptu deal, the housing will have to be postponed. “The lawsuit against the Chicago Housing Authority, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge alleges the sale of about 23-acres of land on the Near West Side — which had long been promised for new housing — instead went for the soccer facility “without a transparent process or adherence to civil rights laws,” according to Block Club Chicago. Therefore, there was a clear violation when it comes to this new facility being transformed into a soccer facility.
What is the Reason for this Sudden Change? Why the Rush?
As Lori Lightfoot was completing her final days in office, this was one of the main things that was rushed. Therefore, it seems that it was forgotten that this was going to be a place for new housing to be created, as was the original plan. “The plan was rushed through a prior administration in an election year when the incoming Chicago mayor, Brandon Johnson, publicly opposed the disposition of public housing land for private uses,” according to WBEZ Chicago. Therefore, since this was rushed, it seems that personal gain was the only area of thought.
Reactions to this Impromptu Change, and the Future of this Facility if Built
As expected, there are several people that are not in favor of this immediate and uncalled-for change. “CHA should be creating new housing for the thousands of families in need in Chicago,” Kate Walz, associate director of litigation of the National Housing Law Project, said in the statement. “But instead they gave up valuable public land to a billionaire and his soccer team,” according to Block Club Chicago. Therefore, this is one of the many that are against this idea and are in favor of suing the CHA. If, in the future of this lawsuit, the majority wins, it seems that housing will be built, and fast. It will no longer be postponed. However, if the majority does not win, several families will suffer major depravity.
Written by David Loran Jr
Sources:
WBEZ Chicago: Suit seeks to scuttle CHA land lease to Chicago Fire and construction $80 million training facility
Block Club Chicago: Deal To Lease Public Housing Land To Chicago Fire Soccer Team Violated Civil Rights, Groups Allege In Lawsuit
Chicago Housing Authority: Public Housing
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Ashley Bree Photography’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Montgomery County Planning Commission’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
